‘Tis the Season for Denver Broncos To Improve

Jan 24, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; Denver Broncos coach John Fox at AFC practice for the 2013 Pro Bowl at Hickam air force base. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos have to get better to contend for postseason honors in 2013-2014.

You know that.

I know that.

And the Broncos know that – from owner Pat Bowlen down to those lucky youngsters who run errands during practices.

It should be simple, this self-improvement process.

And in reality – at least in the scheming – it is simple:  Let’s decide who is worth their salt on our current staff and roster, have a good draft, go find a few free key agents and check around the league to determine if there are any players available that could be stolen in a trade.  Once done, it’s time to gather, bond, practice and learn, then avoid injuries for the next six or seven months.

Nothing to it, right?

Saying it and doing it are two different things.

Bronco players, save those who were commanded to appear in Hawaii for the NFL’s dinosaur of a Pro Bowl, are vacationing and healing, taking a little time off before heading back to a wide variety of gyms and health clubs around the country.

This used to be a time for players to spend four or five months selling insurance policies or used cars, fattening up and just being lazy.  The current NFL clime won’t allow that; it’s too competitive, too many young studs out there just begging to take your job.

This used to be a time for NFL coaches to play golf, do some hunting and/or fishing, maybe take the family on an extended vacation.

Now?  Check out the locale of any NFL coach at this minute – at some obscure all-star practice scouting a specific group of players, in a film room checking out college players or potential free-agent signees, or huddled in secretive sessions with other coaches.

The Bronco coaching staff, however, was in Hawaii, coaching the AFC team, this week – and certainly doing a bit of chatting about what comes next.  The team also had scouts galore at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Now with those two activities finished, it will be back to Denver for staff members and back to the big drawing board.

A list of priorities:

First, clean up your own house.  The staff has already been addressed with the addition of offensive coordinator Adam Gase, new secondary coach Cory Undlin and quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp.

Then will come the process of looking at the current roster and deciding who stays and who goes.

Players who need be dealt with because of impending free agency include offensive lineman Ryan Clady and Dan Koppen, wide receiver Brandon Stokley, defensive linemen Justin Bannan, Kevin Vickerson and middle linebacker Keith Brooking.

Some players who could be asked to restructure contracts would include linebackers D.J. Williams ($6 million due in 2013, according to Spotrac.com), Joe Mays ($4 million) and guard Chris Kuper ($4.5 million).  Williams was a situational player late last season after returning from suspension, Mays was injured early and missed most of the season, and Kuper is in line for another ankle surgery.

Obviously, other players and contracts need be addressed as the Broncos try to fit under the $121 million salary cap:  Third-string quarterback Caleb Hanie is due $1.25 million.  Wide receiver Andre Caldwell and tight end Julius Thomas are making more than the league minimum but are also far down on depth charts.  Veterans across the board will be closely examined in terms of what-have-you-done-for-us-lately and are you worth what you are going to cost.

Replacements will then be sought out, be it via the draft, free agency or trade.

Upgrades have been bandied about on defensive line, middle linebacker and, yes, in the secondary, where at times eight, even nine pass defenders will be on the field.  There has also been mention of addressing needs on the offensive line, running back and at wide receiver slots.

Scouting combines will kick off in early February, clubs can enter into discussion with free agents the second week of March, the 2012 contract year ends on March 12, and the draft will be held April 25-27.

Then and only then, the Bronco staff might take a breath.  But it’ll be a quick one.

Because someone somewhere – maybe in San Diego, Kansas City or Oakland – may be gaining ground on the two-time defending AFC West champs.

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